A/N: Minna-san, gomenasai for the delay... There were just a lot of things going on in my life right now, some good, some bad. But hopefully, the bad doesn't make a regular appearance in my life. I do hope though you'll enjoy this final chapter as much as I had enjoyed putting it together. I really appreaciate all the reviews I had received from all of you, and I hope you will all join me in my future CCS stories. Thank you, and enjoy. : )
Chapter 9
The awaited day arrived and Syaoran practically tore off the airport in his rush. If it wasn't for Mei Ling shouting at the top of her lungs and making quite a huge scene, he would have totally forgotten about his luggage.
"Mou!!! I know you're excited and everything, but she'll be busy setting up to meet with us." Mei Ling said exasperatedly. She had been trying to get Syaoran to relax from the time they woke up until the time they finally landed in Japan.
"I know. But I can't help it. I've been patient for the whole month, and I couldn't believe I'll get to see her soon." Syaoran exclaimed, half dragging, half carrying his luggage in an effort to hasten their progress to the blue sky beckoning outside the sliding glass doors.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. That's the only thing you'd been wordy about the whole term." Mei Ling grimaced, following her unusually hyper cousin out into the spring sunshine of Tomoeda.
"Tomoyo-chan, I can't believe you. Are you sure they would not suspect anything?" Sakura fidgeted behind the curtains. It was only two more acts before their class' turn and she's having second thoughts about their class presentation.
"Sakura-chan, stop moving around or I might poke you with the wire." Tomoyo mumbled through a mouth full of hairpins. She had been working consistently on attaching the fine angel's wings on Sakura's back and arranging the latter's hair to fall in the way she had envisioned. "Trust me, with the advancement in technology, they would believe that I had it edited with the use of new editing software. Besides, the big finale is live, and that would be enough to convince them that it was all graphically done. And do remember to thank Sakura Fly for me, getting up close to it allowed me to craft this magnificent pair of wings." Tomoyo patted the last of the ruffled feathers in place to conceal the wirework holding the whole thing up.
"I just hope you're right." Sakura sighed in a resigned manner, knowing that it's too late to prepare anything else. Sending a silent prayer, she followed Tomoyo to the waiting harness.
Syaoran looked up from the program he had opened on his lap. He had Wei unpacked their stuff on the same apartment they had used during his stay in Tomoeda all those years ago. Too wired too remained calm, he dragged a protesting Mei Ling into the auditorium and took seats dead center on the front row.
"You know Syaoran, there's like six more acts before Sakura's. So what are we doing sitting down here when we could have tasted those fried manjus their selling out there?" Mei Ling demanded. They smelled so nice and very appetizing, and she hadn't been able to eat much on the airplane because Syaoran kept disturbing her.
"We'll eat later after their performance. Besides, we might not be able to get good seats if we came in late." Syaoran waved her reasoning distractedly. He had no time for any petty trips to the outside stalls when Sakura is just behind that billowing red curtains awaiting their turn with a slightly nervous smile for everyone in the cast.
Mei Ling settled back in her seat with a defeated sigh. If anything, she's gotten used to Syaoran's stubbornness, and knew that he wouldn't budge an inch until he saw Sakura.
It was a desert of promises; promises that had been made in good faith, but had never seen the light of reality. It was the picture of a desolate land for the people whose hearts had long given up hope.
The narrator intoned in a grave voice through the loud speakers. With a startled jump, Sakura nearly collided with Naoko who was standing behind her, preparing to give her cues. "Sorry Naoko-chan." Sakura whispered with a nervous laugh. The darkened stage slowly brightened as the video began to play out.
A girl (Chiharu) came out of her home, locking the door carefully behind her. She looked suspiciously around before walking on her way, clutching the basket she was carrying more tightly. Pausing slightly, she chance a glance at a clear blue sky, a sad expression reflected in her eyes, and she resumed her walk.
A boy (Yamazaki) hid above the tree, watching as the girl walked past. A sad smile played on his lips as he continually watched her until she was no more than a dot in the horizon.
"Oi, Kazuki, get down from that tree. How many times have I told you that we must not climb the trees that gave us our food and clothing, lest we anger the fertility god and have her take away the source of our livelihood?" A woman (another female student) stood underneath the tree, her hands on her waist, looking imposing despite the faded floral apron. She walked back to a house hidden from the main road by the many apple trees.
Kazuki swung down from the branches with a sigh. He landed on the ground and brushed away at the dirt clinging from his shirts and pants. With a last look at the direction the girl had disappeared too, he went after his mother.
The girl sneaked off her home as the sun started to set. She sprinted quietly into a small clearing where a boy with dark hair stood with his back to her. Quietly, she approached from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her head on his back. "Kazuki-kun, is this really how it's going to end?" she whispered against his shirt.
Kazuki placed his hands on top of hers, and relished the feel of her on his back for a short while. Slowly, he pushed her hands away and turned to face her. "Haruka-chan, as much as I wish it isn't so, there's nothing we can do. The orders had been dispatched, and the enemy is fast closing in on our village. I have to go and serve our country." Kazuki looked at her tear-filled eyes with hopelessness, it was tough but he had to be firm.
"I know. I know all about that. But it still doesn't make it easier. I don't like this at all." Haruka shook her head violently, wrapping her arms around her waist, her face in pain.
Kazuki lifted his arms, as if to drew in an embrace, but let them fall down his side in resignation. "I don't like this either, but what choice do I have? You know every son had been pledged to serve the country when called upon." He reasoned hollowly, knowing that it wouldn't make things better at all.
"Yes, but none of us expected this war would turn out like this." Haruka steeped forward and clutched at the front of his shirt. "This is insane! This is wrong. I don't want to be away from you, to be left in the dark, not knowing if you'll come back to me alive and well, or in a casket, forever lost to the gates of Hades."
Kazuki gently extracted her hands from his shirt and held them gently in his. With his eyes on their joined hands, he took a deep breath, and looked at her. "Then let's promise to meet again after all this have been settled. We'll be free to start our own family then. I'm sure your parents would be proud that their daughter had chosen to settle down with a war veteran." The intensity of his look bore into her.
Haruka shook her head, tears flying from her eyes with every movement. "Please no. Don't promise anything since no promises had ever been fulfilled in this place. Please, I cannot accept it, I cannot believe that."
Kazuki pleaded with her, "Please believe me. I know how hard it is, but please let's make this work. Send me off tomorrow with the promise that we'll meet each other again." Kazuki pulled her fiercely into his embrace, his chin resting on her head of auburn curls. "Send me off tomorrow with your devastating smile, with the promise that we'll build a family together." A note of desperation evident in his voice, as he held her away to look into her eyes.
"But what if the promises we make is broken? There is no guarantee you will come back alive. Will you have me suffer the long wait to hear what had become of you?" Haruka cried out, her fear and hopelessness giving rise to the words she had vowed never to speak. She let go of his hand and turned away, blinking rapidly to stop the overflowing tears.
"Believe in me. That's all I ask of you. If you cannot believe in the words spoken in promise, then believe that I will return to you. One way or another, I will find a way to return to you." Kazuki stepped forward, and wrapped his arms around Haruka from behind. He inhaled the scent of her hair, and softly whispered. "Believe in my love, the gods will not forsake that."
Haruka bowed her head, praying silently for the gods above to answer. "Yes, I believe in our love." she replied softly as she placed her hands on top of his, letting the tears course a path down her cheeks.
Sakura watched in awe, blinking back the tears that had sprung to her eyes as she watched from the sideline. She hadn't expected how good the video turned out to be. She silently reminded herself to give Tomoyo a very huge compliment for her editing genius. It wouldn't surprise her to find that everyone in the audience were dabbing at their eyes, as they watched the scene fade into darkness.
The next scene caused her heart to skip to her throat. Seeing herself on wide-screen startled her.
Now there is an angel on heaven who has a soft spot for the citizens of this land, for she was once a living human who had wandered among them. Her love had been among those who had been sent off to fight the never-ceasing war, and she had been all but a girl of eighteen when he had left with the promises to return. But alas, they were not fated to meet as the illness that plagued her village had snuffed out her life. Upon her love's return, he was met with the news of her untimely demise. In his devastation, he lost all hope and had led a life of a hermit, far away from the eyes of anyone until he was nothing more than a distant memory.
The narrator's voice boomed on the speakers as a huge Sakura began to come into focus.
The angel (Sakura) watched from her perch on heaven. It was a scene that ate at her heart, as she wiped the sparkling tears from her eyes. She watched with pain and sadness etched in her eyes as the war escalated more until it had reached the village where Haruka lives.
All around, the women, children, and elders had fled towards the foot of the mountains, seeking refuge from the fires ravishing their houses. The once well-tended gardens ruined, the trees had been charred black, and dust swirled, covering the destruction like a blanket.
A few hours passed before all grew quiet and the dust to settle. Like a thief, Haruka stealthily made her way to her home, hoping to salvage whatever was left. She cut across the clearing, only to stop in her tracks as she found a man leaning against the tree she and Kazuki had promised to meet under.
She approached slowly, studying the features that she could make out, hoping against hope that it wasn't Kazuki waiting for his death. Her breath caught in her throat when she caught sight of her beloved's face, all of her nightmares rushing to the surface. She sprinted the last few yards to get to his side and look for signs of life, tears running down her eyes.
Sakura was impressed with the way the lines Naoko wrote sounded. Their narrator was pretty good at setting the mood, as she felt herself drawn into the story along with the audience.
Tomoyo crept in front of the audience to get to the center where Syaoran and Mei Ling sat together. She had requested Mei Ling to reserve a seat for her in one of their phone conversations prior to the day. Her trusty camcorder on her hands, she settled next to Mei Ling with a smile. Syaoran was too engrossed into the story to take notice.
The angel wiped the tears from her eyes, while Haruka's voice can be heard in the background. "Why? Tell me why? Have you forsaken our love? Why god, why had you let him end up this way? Why?"
The angel stared sadly at the scene, recalling her own past. Visions of the days she had spent flooding her mind.
Syaoran let out a gasp of recognition as he found himself watching footages of the dates she and Sakura had been on, dates that he had not realized were being recorded. He swiveled in his seat and found the Cheshire-like grin of Tomoyo aimed at him, as she patted her camcorder slyly.
Sakura almost choked as she recognized the scenes that Tomoyo had said she will supply for the "memory" of the angel. It was the few dates Syaoran had planned for them during the summer when he was able to visit. The day they went to the carnival, the day he surprised her with a bouquet of flowers, their movie dates… the memories came flooding and the tears welled up in her eyes. She missed Syaoran even more.
The angel, strength evident in her stance, lifted her eyes heavenward. "God, please let me help them. Please let my sacrifice be the hope this world needs. I am honored to have served in your stead, but it is the people below who needs me more." With that said, the angel spread her wings. She raised a last pleading look to the one above before taking flight, plunging into the many layers of snowy clouds for the dry and gray land below.
Naoko tapped Sakura and gave her the thumbs-up. It was the signal for her to appear on stage. With a nod of understanding, Sakura took a deep breath and readied herself for the harness belt's tension. She silently ordered Sakura Light to move with her, making it seemed as she was glowing, praying fervently that Sakura Create has not been noticed as it gave a dose of reality to the setting.
The spotlight was trained on Sakura as she descended on the scene, the stage lighting up slowly with her approach revealing Chiharu and Yamazaki in a hopeless embrace. Sakura took a few steps towards the couple and paused as she saw feathers floating from the sky. With a smile of gratefulness, she continued on and knelt in front of them.
Chiharu looked at her like she was supposed to. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed the glow surrounding Sakura, but fought to stay in character. "Who are you?" it came out a bit strained, but worked well with the situation her character was experiencing.
Sakura looked at her and smiled slowly. "I am called many names, an angel, a vision, a fairy, and even a goddess. I am all this and more, but I came here today as your hope. I used to be someone like you, pining for my love in this ongoing war, not knowing if I'll see him back alive and well, or cold and wrapped in a casket." She reached forward and placed her hand on top of Chiharu's as the latter's hand rested on top of Yamazaki's heart. "Alas, I wasn't as lucky as you to have the chance to glimpse my love for the last time as I had passed on shortly after he had left." Sakura bowed her head and let a few tears flow freely down her face. "I had been given the blessing to do as I please with my god-given power, and I am choosing to grant your wish."
"What do you mean?" Chiharu asked, just the right amount of uncertainty in her voice.
Sakura stood up and stepped away from the huddled couple. "I may not have the opportunity to spend a wonderful life with my beloved, but I will give you the opportunity to spend your life with yours. As my last act as an angel, I offer this immortality to the gods above in exchange for the life of this man." Sakura clasped her hands to her breast in prayer, her head aimed towards the heavens, a peaceful smile on her face. With a silent command, she ordered Sakura Glow to rain them upon them.
"What will happen to you then?" Chiharu asked frightened.
"Do not worry about me, dear Haruka, for I shall be one with the wind." On light feet, Sakura came closer and placed a hand to wipe a tear away from Chiharu's eyes. "I will be among you always, celebrating the love that I had been witnessed of. May your love be the light of hope in this land of broken promises." Sakura let her voice fade as she slowly pulled her head back, silently ordering Sakura Shadow to cloak her figure slowly as Sakura Glow sent its last sparkle.
Yamazaki let out an exaggerated groan to signal his 'resurrection'. "Kazuki!" Chiharu exclaimed, sobbing openly while holding on to Yamazaki as the lights dimmed.
Sakura let out a sigh of relief backstage. The play was almost half-done and she ordered Sakura Create to relinquish its design on the stage as the props people hastily changed the backdrop. Naoko quickly unfastened the wings on her back as its presence wouldn't be needed for the last scene.
Haruka tended to Kazuki's wound, telling him about the miracle an angel had performed for them. How the tears the angel shed brought him back to life, and the way she had wished them both well. The narrator went on to tell the story of the two, being the props people plenty of time to set up the simple backdrop for the final scene. Meanwhile, the gods had given the angel a last wish before she completely fades away…
Sakura quickly ordered Sakura Illusion to make body shimmer and bright. Taking one last deep breath, she tasked Sakura Shadow to once again shield her from view until the opportune time.
The stage brightened to reveal a living room in wooden cottage, where an old man sat idly on the lone rocking chair, doing a simple wood carving. Sakura counted to ten and had Sakura Shadow fade back to nothingness as she made her presence known.
With a clatter, the wooden block fell to the floor as the old man stared at her in disbelief. On rickety knees, he stood up, and walked slowly towards her. "Hikari?" He whispered brokenly.
Sakura nodded with a sad smile and tears running down her eyes. "It's been a long time, Kyousuke-kun. I'm sorry I wasn't around when you came back. I just wanted you to know for the last time that I love you, and I never stopped loving you. I wished I could stay, but the gods had given me only a moment before I fade to become one with the wind. Just know that when you feel the wind blowing, remember my words, for I shall be that wind caressing you forever." Sakura Shadow moved to slowly cover his mistress at her bidding. Sakura smiled another sad smile, discreetly timing the flow of her tears to coincide with the dropping of the plastic crystal.
In the blink of an eye, Sakura had disappeared from the stage, leaving behind a frozen tear-drop. The old man knelt before it and cradled the crystal preciously as a soft breeze blew on his face (Sakura Windy was instructed beforehand to take this as a cue to provide the wind). And slowly, the curtain was lowered to signal the end of the play).